Reduced glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous
thiol-containing tripeptide that plays a key role in the etiology of many diseases and, in particular,
cancer. GSH, the foremost internal protective system, participates directly in the destruction of
free radical compounds and detoxification of
carcinogens. The effect of Semecarpus anacardium nut milk extract was studied for gaining insight into the disease relationship to GSH and its metabolizing
enzymes. Mammary
carcinoma was induced by giving 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]
anthracene (DMBA) (25 mg/mL of
olive oil) perorally by gastric intubation, and nut milk extract of S. anacardium was administered orally (200 mg/kg of
body weight/day) for 14 days to mammary
carcinoma-bearing rats. The levels of GSH and its metabolizing
enzyme activities were determined in liver and kidney homogenates. Significant decreases in GSH,
glutathione peroxidase,
glutathione S-transferase,
glutathione reductase, and
gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and a concomitant increase in
oxidized glutathione,
gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and
glucose 6-phosphate
dehydrogenase were observed in DMBA-induced mammary
carcinoma in rats, while drug treatment reversed the conditions to near normal levels. There was a marked increase in GSH level and
gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity in drug control rats. These findings suggest that S. anacardium can exert its protective effect in maintaining the
glutathione redox status by restoring the associated
enzymes against oxidative stress in experimental mammary
carcinoma.